Vertical collator

ABSTRACT

The collator of this invention comprises sheet collecting compartments defined by forks mounted on a prestressed, pretensioned precision chain having a vertical run confronting a downstream end of a sheet flow path. Precision sheet separation into identical complements in each sheet collecting compartment is achieved on a mass production basis by resilient stabilizing means embracing a portion of the chain in its vertical run in captured relation to positively ensure that the tip of each fork is driven past the oncoming sheets in a common vertical path in timed relation to a sheet separating member upstream of the forks in the sheet flow path.

United States Patent Primary Examiner.lerome Schnall Assistant ExaminerPaul V. Williams Attorney-Prutzman, Hayes, Kalb & Chillon ABSTRACT: The collator of this invention comprises sheet collecting compartments defined by forks mounted on a prestressed, pretensioned precision chain having a vertical run confronting a downstream end of a sheet flow path. Precision sheet separation into identical complements in each sheet collecting compartment is achieved on a mass production basis by resilient stabilizing means embracing a portion of the chain in its vertical run in captured relation to positively ensure that the tip of each fork is driven past the oncoming sheets in a common vertical path in timed relation to a sheet separating member upstream of the forks in the sheet flow path.

PATENTEU mm SHEET 1 OF 4 FIG.

INVENTORS CHARLES AA I EDWARD A. w WM STR D ATTORNEYS PATENTEU mes ml 3,558,125 SHEET 3 BF 4 Jllllll'llllllil &

VIII/[T11 VERTICAL COLLATOR This invention generally relates to the sheet handling art and particularly concerns a collator of a general type described in copending application Ser. No. 646.9 I 8 filed Jun. 19, l967. now US. Pat. No. 3,502,32l, Sheet Delivery and Collating Machine-- and assigned to the assignee of this invention,

A primary object of this invention is to provide a machine having an improved collator for precisely registering each of a series of sheet collecting compartments with a predetermined point in a sheet flow path to enable the machine to be operated at significantly higher production speeds.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved collator particularly suited for use in an automatic printing machine for reliable trouble-free operation at web speeds in the order of l ,000 feet per minute.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a collator having minimal service requirements and which is quick and easy to adjust for handling sheets of different sizes.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical side elevational view showing pan of a machine embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section, of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing the relation of a sheet collecting fork to a metering can when successive sheet complements are being separated;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing details of a bearing arrangement for mounting a sprocket wheel on a drive shaft; and

FIG. 6 is a section view, partly broken away, taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a preferred embodiment of a machine 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 incorporating a collator 12 for collecting sheets emerging from a metering nip assembly 16 and for automatically delivering the sheets to an outfeed conveyor 18. While the machine 10 may be used in various sheet collecting applications, it will be described in connection with the collation of paper sheets of a predetermined count constituting separate sheet complements, e.g., such as completed books in an automatic printing press.

As fully described in the above mentioned patent application, a sheet separating and metering can 20 is positioned in operative intersection with a sheet flow path 22 downstream of the nip assembly 16. The metering cam 20 is shown in FIG. 1 as having a suitable driving connection 24 to the metering nip assembly 16 which in turn is connected through drive belts 26, 28, to a main drive shaft 32. The metering cam 20 rotates at a predetermined angular speed in timed relation to the passage of the sheets for precisely separating successive sheet complements for individual collection in the collator 12. As best seen in FlG. 3, a cam nose portion 34 acts to depress leading edges of the last sheets of each complement to separate and guide them away from the first sheets of a following complement which will be in synchronism with a radial portion 36 of the metering cam 20 to ensure separate entry of the sheet complements into the collator 12.

When it is desired to achieve extremely high speed operation, e.g., wherein paper web is being printed at L000 feet per minute, precision collation of the printed cut sheets in proper page sequence is of critical importance. For this reason, it is imperative the collator l2 advance past the sheet flow path in precisely timed relation to the metering cam 20. Any error introduced by backlash, unintended play of the moving parts or other lost motion transmitted to the collator 12 at the critical moment of separation of successive sltcct complements will result in wasted materials. lost production timc or possibly require operation of the complete machine 10 substantially below its capacity.

To provide significantly increased production output while at the same time ensuring reliable collation in accordance with this invention. a pair of prcstrcsscd, prctcnsioncd precision chains 38, 40 are provided for carrying a like plurality of forks 42 defining successive sheet collecting compartments 44 and an improved drive sprocket mounting arrangement is incorporated to maintain the chains 38, 40 against unintended movement. Since the chain and sprocket assemblies on each side of the collator 12 are of substantially the same construction, only one assembly will be described in detail.

In the specific illustrated embodiment. the chain 40 is trained over an upper idler sprocket wheel 46 and a lower drive sprocket 48. An unsupported vertical run ofthe chain 40 confronts the sheet flow path in adjacent but laterally offset relation to the metering can 20, there being two metering cams shown in the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 disposed beside each chain 38, 40. A horizontal shaft 50 supports a bearing assembly 52 for the idler sprocket wheel 46 and is secured to a pair of upstanding frame members 54, 56. The frame members 54, 56 are joined by a plurality of tie bars 58 and rotatably support a drive shaft 60 for the lower sprocket wheel 48. To selectively adjust the chain tension, the upper sprocket shaft 50 is secured to a pair of movable supports 62, 64 threadably connected to vertical adjusting screws 66, 68 supported on the top of the frame members 54, 56.

To drive the chains 38, 40, power is applied to the main drive shaft 32 and transmitted via a belt 70 to the drive shaft 60 whereupon both chains 38, 40 are driven in unison to move the vertical run of each chain adjacent its metering cam 20 in descending relation to the sheet flow path.

Opposite side edges of each sheet complement are uniformly aligned by a pair of jogging discs 72, 74 mounted on opposite sides of the metering earns 20 for rotation on the frame members 54, 5 6. A suitable belt driving connection 76 is provided to a pair of meshing gears 78, 80 driven through the belt 30 connected to the main shaft 32 for driving the discs 72, 74.

The outfeed conveyor 18 is also driven from the main shaft 32 through a belt and pulley assembly 82 connected to a drive shaft 84 upon which a pair of sprockets 86, 88 are mounted to drivingly engage a pair of chain conveyors such as at 90 carrying uniformly spaced fingers 92 for assuring lengthwise alignment of each sheet complement. The sheet complements are successively deposited on the outfeed conveyor 18 as the collator forks 42 descend past the conveyor chains 90 which move upwardly between the forks 42 in timed relation thereto at an angle corresponding to the attitude of the forks 42 to ensure smooth and uninterrupted transfer of the sheet complements. To position the forks 42 of the collator l2 and the fingets 92 of the conveyor 18, suitable provision is desirably made for adjusting the chains 40 and 90 along their path of movement, e.g., through manual adjustment of their drive shafts 60 and 84.

Any error in the angular positioning of the sprocket teeth of the drive sprocket wheel 48 will be seen to introduce an undesired displacement of the fork tips relative to the metering cam 20. For this reason, the forks 42 are secured to the chain 40such that the same motion imparted to the inner ends of the forks will be imparted to the fork tips and the pitch radius of the drive sprocket wheel 48 is intentionally designed to be of substantially reduced size to minimize any error in the positioning of the chain links which would otherwise be amplified by the forks to an increased extent if they were mounted for travel, e.g., on an arcuate path having a relatively large radius of curvature.

To further minimize any unintended movement of the chain 40 being transmittedto and amplified by the fork tips which would introduce error in the transfer of sheets to the collator 12, an improved mounting arrangement is incorporated to firmly secure the drive sprocket wheel 48 on its shaft 60. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, a pair of cam follower bearings 94, 96 are secured in fixed relation to the drive sprocket wheel 48 and disposed respectively in a pair of grooves 98, 100 formed in opposed relation along the length of the drive shaft 60. The followers 94, 96 engage opposite sidewalls of their respective grooves 98, 100 (FlG. 6) such that regardless of the angular direction of the drive shaft 60, each follower 94, 96 will be in continuous driving engagement therewith to essentially eliminate any possibility of lost motion between the drive shaft 60 and the sprocket wheel 48.

In the specific illustrated embodiment, enlarged heads 102, 104 of the followers 94, 96 are rigidly fixed to a pair of clamping bars 106, 108 by locking nuts 110, 112. Clamping bars 106, 108 seat on hub portions 114 and 116, respectively, of a bearing assembly 118 and the drive sprocket wheel 48. Bars 106, 108 are fixed relative to drive shaft 60 by a pair of hub extensions 120, 122 secured between clamping bars 106, 108 by suitable fasteners 124. To ensure precision angular alignment of the sprocket teeth on each drive sprocket wheel 48, the hub extensions 120, 122 are shown secured by releasable bolts 125 to permit angular adjustment relative to the sprocket wheel 48 to an extent limited by arcuate slots in the sprocket wheel for receiving the bolts 125.

For securing the forks 42 on the chain 40, each fork 42 is provided a mounting block 126 (FIG. 3) having a pair of horizontally extending intermediate shoulders (only one shown at 128) seated on a pair of chain link extension plates 130, 132. The mounting block 126 is shown retained between the extension plates 130, 132 by an abutment plate 134 bridging the bottom edges of the extension plates 130, 132 and screw mounted to the mounting block 126.

Each fork 42 is of a predetermined length and is secured within a channel 136 of the mounting block 126 by a clamping plate 138 fixed thereto by a pair of machine screws 140 to extend from the vertical run of the chain 40, preferably at a 30 angle to the horizontal in equally spaced relation to the adjacent forks. To ensure that each fork 42 is spaced apart at a common vertical distance in the vertical runs of the chains 40, a pair of adjustment screws 142 extend through the clamping plate 138 and each fork 42, to bottom on the mounting block 126 for fine adjustment of the attitude of each individual fork 42. Desired positioning of the forks 42 relative to their longitudinal axis is effected by releasing the clamping plate 138 and securing the forks 42 in a desired adjusted position in relation to the metering cam 20.

Referring to FlGS. 3 and 4, a chain guide rail 144 is suitably mounted in fixed relation to the frame and is of a preselected width to provide a rearwardly disposed bearing surface 146 for the chain rollers 148 interconnecting the links 150 of the chain 40. In addition, a pair of auxiliary guide rails 152, 154 are fixedly mounted in front of the chain 40 and on opposite lateral sides thereof for providing bearing engagement for laterally projecting end portion extensions 156, 158 of the pins 160 connecting the extension plates 130, 132 to the chain 40.

As each fork 42 descends in timed relation to the rotating metering cam 20, the tip of each fork 42 travels in a common rectilinear path and through a predetermined point in the sheet flow path just above the nose portion 34 of the metering cam (FIG. 3) when the separation of successive sheet com plements occurs. To assure that the tip of each fork 42 will so move into and out of register with the oncoming sheets without being displaced from the aforementioned rectilinear path at the critical moment the sheet complements are separated for collection in the collator 12, a spring-loaded bar cam mechanism 162 is provided in the vertical run of each chain 38, 40 in accordance with this invention.

The spring-loaded bar cam mechanism 162 includes a pair of elongated bars 164, 166 mounted adjacent opposite sides of the chain guide rail 144 in alignment with the auxiliary guide rails 152. 154, respectively, for lightly but positively urging the pin extensions 156, 158 toward the auxiliary guide rails 152. 154. Upper and lower end portions of each bar 164, 166 are carried on pins as at 168 supported for sliding movement within suitable bearings 170 respectively mounted in individual spring housings such as at 172 secured to the chain guide rail 144. The spring housings 172 each are provided with a spring chamber 174 containing a compression spring 176 coiled about a screw 178. Each of the screws 178 is con' nected to one of the bars 164, 166 for sliding movement therewith relative to its spring housing 172.

Accordingly. the biasing force of the springs 176 continuously urge the cam bars 164. 166 toward the auxiliary guide rails 152. 154 such that both the pin extensions 156, 158 and the rollers 148 are provided bearing support on opposite sides of the chain 40, the rollers 148 shown being engaged by the chain guide rail 144 substantially across the full width of each roller. It will be noted that the links of the chain 40 are disposed immediately adjacent side faces of the chain guidc rail 144 for added stability of the chain 40. The tips of the forks 42 being driven past the sheet flow path are wholly restrained against any possibility of lateral shifting relative to the vertical axis of movement as well as against undesired rotary movement about the pins of the chain 40. The chain 40 in effect is embraced in captured relation just as if the chain 40 were being driven through a slot with zero clearance. Since the light spring force alone is imposed on the pin extensions 156, 158, the only friction imparted is a controlled minimal drag of the pin extensions 156, 158 against their guides 152, 154 in an essentially friction-free resilient stabilizing system.

So that the sheet collecting compartments 44 of the collator 12 may be readily adjusted for varying lengths of sheets, a stop bar 180 is shown releasably secured on the chain guide rail 144 by a suitable fastener 182 extending through a slot 184 in an adjustable arm 186 supporting the stop bar 180.

By virtue of the above described structure, pretensioned precision chains 38, 40 provide a common rectilinear path for the tips of the forks 42 defining the individual sheet collecting compartments 44 along vertical runs of the chains 38, 40, and the compartments 44 intersecting the sheet flow path continuously confront the oncoming sheets at an optimum attitude to smoothly accommodate the natural cascading action of the sheets. To further provide added control over the sheets emerging from the metering nip assembly 16 and to significantly reduce the length of unsupported sheet portions upstream of the collator forks 42, a transfer roll assembly 188 of substantially reduced size is interposed in the sheet flow path between the metering nip assembly 16 and the metering cam 20 and in closely positioned relation thereto for assuring proper sheet unwrapping from peripheral surface portions of the metering nip assembly 16, as well as promoting natural gravity flow or cascading of the unsupported sheets into the collator 12 under high speed conditions.

For handling sheet complements of different widths, the collator 12 is particularly suited to effect relative lateral movement between the chains 38, 40 and their supporting sprocket wheel assemblies in unison with a corresponding relative lateral displacement of their guide rails 144, 152, 154, bar cam mechanisms 162, metering earns 20 and outfeed conveyor 18. Preferably, the above mentioned mechanisms on each side of the collator 12 are independently adjustable as a unit, and since the adjustment means for each side of the machine 10 is of substantially the same construction, only one is hereafter described in detail.

As previously described, the upper and lower sprocket wheels 46, 48 are respectively mounted on upper and lower bearing assemblies 52, 118 which in turn form part of a pair of upper and lower carriages 190, 192 respectively. The lower carriage 192 is shown in FIG. 2 having a suitable double bearing assembly 194 supporting the lower carriage 192 for sliding movement along a horizontally extending support shaft 196 secured to the side frame members 54, 56. As best seen in FIG. 1 the support shaft 196 is one of a pair of shafts 196, 196 symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane extending through the axes of the sprocket wheel shafts 50, 60. An additional carriage support shaft 198 is secured to the frame in vertical spaced relation between the carriage support shafts 196, 196 and the drive shaft 60 for the lower sprocket wheel 48, the additional support shaft 198 being in vertical alignment with the drive shaft 60. The upper carriage 190 is similarly constructed with a pair of carriage support shafts 200, 200 disposed in parallel horizontal alignment below an intermediate carriage support shaft 202 in vertical alignment with the upper sprocket wheel support shaft 50.

A pair of horizontally extending lead screws 204, 206 are supported for rotary movement on the left frame member 54 as viewed in FIG. 2 and are threadably connected to traveling nuts 208, 210 secured to the carriages 190, I92. The lead screws 204, 206 each have a bevel gear 212, 214 respectively in mesh with gears 216, 218 supported on opposite ends ofa vertical drive adjustment shaft 220. Accordingly. when a hand wheel 222 is turned, e.g., an adjustable chain loop 224 (FIG. I) trained over a sprocket wheel 226 on the lower lead screw 206 effects rotation of the lead screws 204, 206 in a proper direction to simultaneously impart a controlled lateral movement to both the upper and lower carriages I90, 192. Consequently, the carriages I90, 192 move laterally of the frame in unison, together with the adjustable stop bar 180, guide rails 144, 152. 154, forks 142 and chain 40 all of which are shown mounted on the carriages 190, 192. A similar arrangement controlled by a second hand wheel 228 is likewise provided for laterally adjusting the right side of the machine 10.

If desired, the adjustable chain loop 224 can be trained over a sprocket wheel 230 mounted on a lead screw 232 for effecting movement of a carrier 234 for the outfeed conveyor 18 shown slidably mounted on suitable horizontal bars 236, 238 secured to the frame. In this manner, operation of the hand wheel 222 will simultaneously effect a controlled lateral ad justment of the outfeed conveyor 18 and, if desired, simultaneous lateral movement of the cam 20 can also be effected by the provision of a sprocket wheel such as at 240 on the upper lead screw 204 and a suitable driving connection shown in part at 242 to the metering cam 20. The jogging discs 72, 74 can be suitably adjusted by feel by a hand wheel 244 to ensure that opposite side edges of the sheets are squared as they enter the collator 12.

Any frictional resistance due to chain tension on the bearing hubs in minimized by the previously mentioned double bearing assemblies 194 provided on each of the carriage support shafts 196, 200. Moreover, any tendency of the carriages 190, 192 to bind on their shafts due to moments of force created by frictional resistance is virtually eliminated by the provision of the bearing assembly 118 shown in FIG. 5 which in effect provides a floating bearing arrangement with the cover pieces 246, 248 bolted to the lower carriage 192 in concentric relation to the drive shaft 60 to provide a self-aligning bearing assembly.

A machine constructed in accordance with this invention will provide precisely timed travel of collator sheet collecting compartments along a common vertical path past the sheet flow path while permitting quick and easy adjustment for sheet complements of varying sizes. In addition to providing a zero backlash mounting arrangement for the drive sprocket wheels to virtually eliminate any possibility of undesirable lost motion being introduced into the system, that portion of the chain carrying the forks past the sheet flow path is stabilized in captured relation to further ensure reliable sheet collation while minimizing any possibility of error even under extremely high speed operating conditions.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure abovedescribed will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a sheet handling machine, a collator comprising a plurality of sheet collecting means continuously movable in descending relation to a stream of oncoming sheets, the sheet collecting means each being successively movable along a common path through a vertical plan into and out of register with oncoming sheets, the plurality of sheet collecting means being uniformly maintained in an upwardly tilted attitude, and a sheet separating member positioned in noninterfering operative intersection in said path of the sheet collecting means, the sheet separating member being movable in timed relation to the passage of the sheet collecting means for delivering individual sheet complements of a predetermined count into each sheet collecting means.

2. The machine of claim I further including resilient stabilizing means on the collator for stabilizing the sheet collecting means during movement thereof along said path past oncoming sheets.

3. The machine of claim I further including a metering nip assembly positioned upstream of the sheet separating member and having a metering roll engageable with the approaching sheets, the metering roll being driven in timed relation to the movement of the sheet collecting means past a line of approach of oncoming sheets, and a transfer roll assembly between the metering nip assembly and the sheet separating member to continuously provide added control over the unsupported sheets emerging from the metering roll assembly and ensure natural cascading of the sheets into the sheet collecting means. i

4. The machine of claim 1 further including a frame, sprocket means mounted on the frame, and an endless chain supported on the sprocket means and having a vertical run supporting the sheet collecting means for movement along said common path.

5. The machine of claim 4 further including a plurality of forks mounted on the chain and constituting said sheet collecting means, the forks being secured to the chain and tips of the individual forks each being movable along a common ver tical path successively past the oncoming sheets.

6. The machine of claim 4 further including tensioning means on the frame for selectively positioning the sprocket means to tension the chain.

7. In a sheet handling machine, a collator comprising a frame, sprocket means mounted on the frame, an endless chain supported on the sprocket means and having a vertical run, a plurality of forks mounted on the vertical run of the chain each having an upwardly tilted attitude to the horizontal in natural cascading relation to a stream of oncoming sheets, tips of the individual forks in the vertical run of the chain each being successively movable along a common vertical path into and out of register with oncoming sheets, the forks each having individual adjusting means for setting each fork at a selected attitude.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein the adjusting means for each fork is releasably secured thereto to additionally permit longitudinal adjustment of each of the forks.

9. In a sheet handling machine, a collator comprising a frame, a pair of endless chains, sprocket means mounted on an upper portion and on a lower portion of the frame and supporting the endless chains for movement along a vertical run, a plurality of sheet collecting means carried on the chains for movement in descending relation to a stream of oncoming sheets, the sheet collecting means in the vertical run of the chains each being successively movable along a rectilinear path into and out of register with oncoming sheets, and carriage means mounted on the frame for lateral movement and supporting the sprocket means for relative lateral adjustment of the chains to accommodate sheets of different size.

10. The machine of claim 9 further including screw adjustment means joumaled on the frame for rotary movement and threadably connected to the carriage means for effecting relative lateral adjustment of the chains in confronting transverse relation to the oncoming sheets.

11. The machine of claim 9 wherein lateral adjustment means is provided for each of the chains, the chains being independently adjustable relative to one another in confronting transverse relation to the oncoming sheets.

12. The machine of claim 9 wherein the sprocket means supporting one of the endless chains includes an upper sprocket wheel and a lower sprocket wheel having axes contained in a common vertical plane. the carriage means incluu ing a pair of upper and lower carriages respectively connected to the upper and lower sprocket wheels and supported for lateral movement on the frame. and adjustment drive means connected to the upper and lower carriages for simultaneous lateral movement of said one of the endless chains toward and away from the other thereof.

13. The machine of claim 12 further including shaft support means secured on the frame for supporting the upper and lower carriages, the carriages each being mounted on a plurality of bearing means on said shaft support means for minimizing frictional resistance to lateral movement, the bearing means including axial thrust bearing means for minimizing any binding to the shaft support means during lateral displacement of the carriages.

14. The machine of claim 12 wherein the adjustment drive means includes a pair of driven lead screws journaled on the frame for rotation, the lead screws having a driving connection therebetween and being threadably connected to the upper and lower carriages for effecting simultaneous lateral displacement in unison of the upper and lower sprocket wheels.

15. In a sheet handling machine, a collator comprising a driven endless chain having a rectilinear run movable in descending relation to a stream of oncoming sheets, and sheet collecting compartments carried on the chain for receiving sheet complements of a predetermined count, the chain including a plurality of links and pins interconnecting the links, and stabilizing means on the collator for maintaining links in said rectilinear run against both lateral shifting of the chain and angular movement about its pins as the sheet collecting compartments pass the oncoming sheets.

16. The machine of claim 15 further including a drive shaft, a sprocket on the drive shaft for driving the chain, and a tongue and groove connection between the drive shaft and the sprocket ensuring continuous driving engagement therebetween to maintain the sprocket against backlash in both angular directions.

17. The machine of claim 15 wherein the said rectilinear run of the chain lies in a vertical plane, and wherein the sheet collecting compartments are defined by a plurality of forks mounted on the chain, the forks carried by said vertical run of chain having tips movable along a common vertical path past the oncoming sheets.

18. The machine of claim 17 wherein the forks on said vertical run of the chain each are disposed in parallel spaced relation in an upwardly tilted attitude generally parallel to unsupported leading edges of the sheets such that they will be introduced into the sheet collecting compartments in a natural cascading action at a relatively constant angle in relation to the forks.

19. The machine of claim l7 further including a sheet separating member positioned in line with oncoming sheets in noninterfering operative intersection with said common vcrti cal path of the fork tips and supported for movement in synchronism with the movement of the sheet collecting compartments.

20. In a sheet handling machine. a collator comprising a driven endless chain having a rectilinear run movable in descending relation to a stream of oncoming sheets. sheet col lecting compartments carried on the chain for receiving sheet complements of a predetermined count, resilient stabilizing means embracing a portion of the chain in said rectilinear run thereof in captured relation solely permitting descending mo tion of said portion of the chain for stabilizing the sheet col lectin compartments assing the oncomin sheets.

2l. ln a sheet handling machine. a cofiator comprising a driven endless chain having a rectilinear run movable in descending relation to a stream of oncoming sheets. a plurality of mounting means secured to the chain by connecting pins having projecting end portions extending laterally outwardly of links of the chain, the mounting means having forks defining sheet collecting compartments. a frame having guide means adjacent the chain and extending parallel to its rectilinear run, and the frame having a spring loaded member mounted thereon and continuously urging the projecting end portions of the connecting pins toward the guide means to maintain the chain and its fork against angular movement about the connecting pins while the forks descend past the on coming sheets.

22. The machine ofclaim 21 wherein the frame further provides a rolling bearing surface for the connecting pins of the chain, the rolling bearing surface being disposed on a side of the chain opposite the guide means thereby additionally maintaining the chain and the forks against lateral displacement as the forks descend past the sheet separating member.

23. ln a sheet handling machine, a collator comprising a driven endless chain having a rectilinear run movable in descending relation to a stream of oncoming sheets, sheet collecting compartments carried on the chain for receiving sheet complements of a predetermined count, a drive shaft, a sprocket on the drive shaft for driving the chain, and adjustment means for adjustably setting the angular position of the sprocket relative to the drive shaft for varying the timing of the movement of the chain relative to the oncoming sheets.

24. The machine of claim 23 further including a tongue and groove connection between the drive shaft and the sprocket ensuring continuous driving engagement therebetween to maintain the sprocket against backlash in both angular directions. 

1. In a sheet handling machine, a collator comprising a plurality of sheet collecting means continuously movable in descending relation to a stream of oncoming sheets, the sheet collecting means each being successively movable along a common path through a vertical plan into and out of register with oncoming sheets, the plurality of sheet collecting means being uniformly maintained in an upwardly tilted attitude, and a sheet separating member positioned in noninterfering operative intersection in said path of the sheet collecting means, the sheet separating member being movable in timed relation to the passage of the sheet collecting means for delivering individual sheet complements of a predetermined count into each sheet collecting means.
 2. The machine of claim 1 further including resilient stabilizing means on the collator for stabilizing the sheet collecting means during movement thereof along said path past oncoming sheets.
 3. The machine of claim 1 further including a metering nip assembly positioned upstream of the sheet separating member and having a metering roll engageable with the approaching sheets, the metering roll being driven in timed relation to the movement of the sheet collecting means past a line of approach of oncoming sheets, and a transfer roll assembly between the metering nip assembly and the sheet separating member to continuously provide added control over the unsupported sheets emerging from the metering roll assembly and ensure natural cascading of the sheets into the sheet collecting means.
 4. The machine of claim 1 further including a frame, sprocket means mounted on the frame, and an endless chain supported on the sprocket meanS and having a vertical run supporting the sheet collecting means for movement along said common path.
 5. The machine of claim 4 further including a plurality of forks mounted on the chain and constituting said sheet collecting means, the forks being secured to the chain and tips of the individual forks each being movable along a common vertical path successively past the oncoming sheets.
 6. The machine of claim 4 further including tensioning means on the frame for selectively positioning the sprocket means to tension the chain.
 7. In a sheet handling machine, a collator comprising a frame, sprocket means mounted on the frame, an endless chain supported on the sprocket means and having a vertical run, a plurality of forks mounted on the vertical run of the chain each having an upwardly tilted attitude to the horizontal in natural cascading relation to a stream of oncoming sheets, tips of the individual forks in the vertical run of the chain each being successively movable along a common vertical path into and out of register with oncoming sheets, the forks each having individual adjusting means for setting each fork at a selected attitude.
 8. The machine of claim 7 wherein the adjusting means for each fork is releasably secured thereto to additionally permit longitudinal adjustment of each of the forks.
 9. In a sheet handling machine, a collator comprising a frame, a pair of endless chains, sprocket means mounted on an upper portion and on a lower portion of the frame and supporting the endless chains for movement along a vertical run, a plurality of sheet collecting means carried on the chains for movement in descending relation to a stream of oncoming sheets, the sheet collecting means in the vertical run of the chains each being successively movable along a rectilinear path into and out of register with oncoming sheets, and carriage means mounted on the frame for lateral movement and supporting the sprocket means for relative lateral adjustment of the chains to accommodate sheets of different size.
 10. The machine of claim 9 further including screw adjustment means journaled on the frame for rotary movement and threadably connected to the carriage means for effecting relative lateral adjustment of the chains in confronting transverse relation to the oncoming sheets.
 11. The machine of claim 9 wherein lateral adjustment means is provided for each of the chains, the chains being independently adjustable relative to one another in confronting transverse relation to the oncoming sheets.
 12. The machine of claim 9 wherein the sprocket means supporting one of the endless chains includes an upper sprocket wheel and a lower sprocket wheel having axes contained in a common vertical plane, the carriage means including a pair of upper and lower carriages respectively connected to the upper and lower sprocket wheels and supported for lateral movement on the frame, and adjustment drive means connected to the upper and lower carriages for simultaneous lateral movement of said one of the endless chains toward and away from the other thereof.
 13. The machine of claim 12 further including shaft support means secured on the frame for supporting the upper and lower carriages, the carriages each being mounted on a plurality of bearing means on said shaft support means for minimizing frictional resistance to lateral movement, the bearing means including axial thrust bearing means for minimizing any binding to the shaft support means during lateral displacement of the carriages.
 14. The machine of claim 12 wherein the adjustment drive means includes a pair of driven lead screws journaled on the frame for rotation, the lead screws having a driving connection therebetween and being threadably connected to the upper and lower carriages for effecting simultaneous lateral displacement in unison of the upper and lower sprocket wheels.
 15. In a sheet handling machine, a collator comprising a driven endless chain having a rectilinear run movable in descending reLation to a stream of oncoming sheets, and sheet collecting compartments carried on the chain for receiving sheet complements of a predetermined count, the chain including a plurality of links and pins interconnecting the links, and stabilizing means on the collator for maintaining links in said rectilinear run against both lateral shifting of the chain and angular movement about its pins as the sheet collecting compartments pass the oncoming sheets.
 16. The machine of claim 15 further including a drive shaft, a sprocket on the drive shaft for driving the chain, and a tongue and groove connection between the drive shaft and the sprocket ensuring continuous driving engagement therebetween to maintain the sprocket against backlash in both angular directions.
 17. The machine of claim 15 wherein the said rectilinear run of the chain lies in a vertical plane, and wherein the sheet collecting compartments are defined by a plurality of forks mounted on the chain, the forks carried by said vertical run of chain having tips movable along a common vertical path past the oncoming sheets.
 18. The machine of claim 17 wherein the forks on said vertical run of the chain each are disposed in parallel spaced relation in an upwardly tilted attitude generally parallel to unsupported leading edges of the sheets such that they will be introduced into the sheet collecting compartments in a natural cascading action at a relatively constant angle in relation to the forks.
 19. The machine of claim 17 further including a sheet separating member positioned in line with oncoming sheets in noninterfering operative intersection with said common vertical path of the fork tips and supported for movement in synchronism with the movement of the sheet collecting compartments.
 20. In a sheet handling machine, a collator comprising a driven endless chain having a rectilinear run movable in descending relation to a stream of oncoming sheets, sheet collecting compartments carried on the chain for receiving sheet complements of a predetermined count, resilient stabilizing means embracing a portion of the chain in said rectilinear run thereof in captured relation solely permitting descending motion of said portion of the chain for stabilizing the sheet collecting compartments passing the oncoming sheets.
 21. In a sheet handling machine, a collator comprising a driven endless chain having a rectilinear run movable in descending relation to a stream of oncoming sheets, a plurality of mounting means secured to the chain by connecting pins having projecting end portions extending laterally outwardly of links of the chain, the mounting means having forks defining sheet collecting compartments, a frame having guide means adjacent the chain and extending parallel to its rectilinear run, and the frame having a spring loaded member mounted thereon and continuously urging the projecting end portions of the connecting pins toward the guide means to maintain the chain and its fork against angular movement about the connecting pins while the forks descend past the oncoming sheets.
 22. The machine of claim 21 wherein the frame further provides a rolling bearing surface for the connecting pins of the chain, the rolling bearing surface being disposed on a side of the chain opposite the guide means thereby additionally maintaining the chain and the forks against lateral displacement as the forks descend past the sheet separating member.
 23. In a sheet handling machine, a collator comprising a driven endless chain having a rectilinear run movable in descending relation to a stream of oncoming sheets, sheet collecting compartments carried on the chain for receiving sheet complements of a predetermined count, a drive shaft, a sprocket on the drive shaft for driving the chain, and adjustment means for adjustably setting the angular position of the sprocket relative to the drive shaft for varying the timing of the movement of the chain relative to the oncoming sheets.
 24. The machine of claim 23 further includIng a tongue and groove connection between the drive shaft and the sprocket ensuring continuous driving engagement therebetween to maintain the sprocket against backlash in both angular directions. 